Card Stash

When I haven't been crafting for a while it takes a bit to get back in the creative mindset.  So I usually start out with cards.  Small projects that use different techniques and get me going again.  And I add to my card stash.

Time to use some of the stencils that I recently purchased.  Blending colours combined with layering the word die to create a chipboard effect

Love this technique by Jennifer McGuire using acrylic blocks to stamp watercolour effects

 Love the ideas that Jennifer McGuire shares.  This one is a swipe technique with stamping

This last one is from a Scrapbook.com class by young scrapbooker Simon Hurley Step by Step Cardmaking Techniques

Cards for the Win

Whenever I haven't been scrapping for a while it always takes some time to get back into the game.  After completing my course I had the opportunity for some scrapping time with family.  I started with some cards.  I was inspired by this watercolour card on Pinterest and decided to have a play with some stamps that someone else had at our retreat.  I continued with the clean and simple look and added a few more to the collection.

My card stash will be looking a bit healthier now.

Baby card

There have been lots of baby's born over the last few weeks so I have been getting back into baby cards. I saw this cute card on Maile Belles site (did I mention I love her clean and simple style - I always want to add more but she definitely nails the less is more idea).  I have several stamp sets with little baby icons so thought they would be perfect to put together like this.  I made one in blue and one in pink but forgot to take the photo before I gave it away.  Will have to make another.  Love the end result.

Colours:  blushing bride, brocade blue, bashful blue, certainly celery, white, black
Stamps:  bottles and blankets (fiskars), peek a boo (EB), all year fun (SU), wedding (kaiser)
Finishing touches:  ribbons (SU), stitching

On a roll with my cards

So much easier to get creative when the ideas are already put together.  This card came together quickly as I already had the idea and the paper to use.  I always think that I have to have lots of time set aside to get anything done when really I just need to use the time I have really well.

Colours: white, baja breeze, blushing bride, early espresso
Stamps: paper tray (PTI)
Finishing touches: paper (my minds eye), baja breeze striped ribbon, beautiful wings embosslits and round tab punch (SU), rhinestones

Monochromatic magic

It has been so long since I have had a chance to get creative.  With sickness and the winter blues {my scrap corner is in the coldest space}  I haven't had the chance or the motivation.  So now things are a little more on track I just had to get back my mojo.  What better way than getting out the folder of card ideas that I had recently put together and do some CASEing (copy and share everything and clean and simple).  It certainly got the creative juices flowing and I now have some more cards to add to the collection.  So motivating.  Definitely back in the zone!

Colours: tempting turquoise, pacific point, white
Stamps: happy birthday (kaiser), background basics retro (PTI)
Finishing touches: red tag sale alpha die (cuttlebug), foam dots

Colours:  always artichoke, certainly celery, sahara sand
Stamps: happy birthday (kaiser), a little argyle (PTI)
Finishing touches: linen thread, mat pack and slit punch (SU), photo anchor and brad, tearing

Colours: regal rose, pink pirouette, white
Stamps: simply you (AE - technique tuesday), tiny tags (PTI)
Finishing touches: daisy punch (unknown), brads, rose red stitched ribbon (SU), tiny tags die (PTI), pink sorbet bakers twine (the twinery)

Who gives a Hoot?

Every now and then I add more cards to my collection. This one is as clean and simple as I tend to get. I saw a card that had used the same layout. The main idea was to use one of my embossing folders as they done't get out much lately.

Colours: sahara sand, tangerine tango, pacific point
Stamps: wise owl and paper tray (PTI), background sampler (SU)
Finishing touches: seeing spots embossing folder (cuttlebug), mandarine twine (the twinery)

More Christmas cards

I had more christmas cards that I wanted to send so put together a clean and simple card (for me anyway), starting with a die that came with my cuttlebug.

Colours: baja breeze, white
Stamps: circle of friendship (SU), favourite memories (TT)
Finishing touches: celebration stamps embossing folder and die (cuttlebug), carribean bakers twine (the twinery), button

Keeping it simple

I have been having a huge clean out of all my papers and punching and diecutting all my bits and pieces of scraps for easy use in my scrapbooking. I found a number of bits and pieces that I wanted to try using for some more simple cards. Amazing what a line or two can add to a sentiment for a different design element paired with designer series paper.

Colours: night of navy, old olive, tempting turquoise, basic black
Stamps: whimsical words and birthday whimsy (SU)
Finishing touches: DSP (SU)

Something for someone else

After a rather grumpy day of forever playing catch up I usually find it hard to get motivated to stamp or scrap {mainly because I am so tired}. But a thought struck me that when you feel least like it, do something for someone else. So I put together this card to send some blessings to a good friend and it has worked. I am feeling alot more energised and back in perspective.

The inspiration for this one is from an advertising sign that I see all the time as I drive down our one way system. Clean and simple. Something that I like but haven't done much of. I thought this one worked well.

Colours: riding hood red, white, black
Stamps: inspired by nature, baroque motifs, vintage labels, and best yet (SU)
Finishing touches: in colour ribbon (SU), button, tag punch

Clean and Simple

While I love to be creative and try different techniques I have really been drawn to the clean simple lines of Melanie Louette. Love her layouts. So I have been trying out some of what I have taken as inspiration from her work. It brings the focus back to the story.

Clean and simple

I love finding simple designs especially when it comes to designing male cards. Clean lines and the right colours work every time. I happened across a design at Clean and Simple Stamping blog. When it came to making the card I had the idea in mind without the sketch and gave it a go. I teamed it with this colour combo from a Spotlight flyer that I liked. My first attempt at matching papers and colours didn't work but ended up being used for the other card I made. It was fun coming up with the different textures and colours. The bonus was taking the card with some goodies delivered by my beautiful boys and hearing that it made their day! Why I love making cards. There is something special in being able to create something for someone. When I have a specific person in mind I can match colour and design to suit.

Colours: ruby red, chocolate chip, only orange, kraft
Stamps: happy birthday (kaisercraft) stripes (own design), leaves
Finishing touches: argyle cuttlebug embossing folder, red embossing powder

Colours: various patterned papers (unknown), kraft
Stamps: happy birthday (kaisercraft)
Finishing touches: argyle cuttlebug embossing folder, copper embossing powder